Meeting to focus on DWP rates

The City Council hasn't yet hired a ratepayer advocate who could analyze any rate hikes proposed by the Department of Water and Power.

But, in a first-of-its-kind meeting, the council's Energy and Environment Committee and the civilian DWP commission will hold a joint meeting on Saturday to review the DWP's financial plan and its needs for future rate increases.

DWP General Manager Ron Nichols will make the presentation, which is expected to include a forecast of rates.

Councilwoman Jan Perry, who chairs the committee, said she sees the hearing as a precursor to the ratepayer advocate - officially, the Office of Public Accountability.

"I want to make it clear that we will not move ahead with any rate increases until we have the Office of Public Accountability created," Perry said. "What I hope this meeting accomplishes is laying out a clear understanding of what the DWP needs and what it is looking at."

The meeting will be held 9-11 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 N. Spring St.

As for the ratepayer advocate, the council's Rules Committee is to get a report on Wednesday on the process for hiring for the new office. Perry said she hopes to see the new department in place by the end of the year.

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City Controller Wendy Greuel is trying to mine city departments for more gold.

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As in the Gold Card Desk, a little-known operation at the Department of Transportation, which was created to handle complaints

about parking citations.

At the Current Affairs Forum luncheon last week, Greuel said her office will investigate whether other agencies have similar programs that expedite or dismiss tickets and fines - especially those that fail to keep adequate documentation.

"So many people have said, `Are there others?"' Greuel said.

Greuel said her audit of the Gold Card Desk came to light as the result of a complaint from a whistle-blower. Some officials have defended the program as a constituent service with an indefensible name.

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Feeling the love.

City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, one of two candidates in a July 12 runoff for Congress, is getting all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings from Democrats around the country.

Hahn last week received endorsements from a host of fellow Democrats, including Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and former presidential candidate Howard Dean. She also got the official support of Emily's List, the National Women's Political Caucus and Patricia Bellasalman, president of the National Organization for Women.

She also has been endorsed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Howard Berman and the California Democratic delegation in Congress.

Her GOP rival, Craig Huey, has received endorsements from Reps. Tom McClintock, Dana Rohrabacher, Ed Pence and other conservatives.

The two are vying for the 36th Congressional District seat formerly held by Jane Harmon, who resigned to become president and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Center.

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To politicians, they are referred to as "grips-and-grins" - fundraisers held at the homes of supporters, with a small group of potential donors as guests.

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And, from the looks of it, candidate Austin Beutner will have sore hands for a while.

Beutner, who served for a year as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's jobs czar, has five events scheduled through mid-June.

One of the bigger events is scheduled for June 7 at the Brentwood home of former Mayor Richard Riordan. Two others are taking him outside the L.A. city limits - with one in Beverly Hills and another in Hidden Hills.

Greuel and Perry, who also are interested in becoming mayor, also have events scheduled: Greuel's is in Encino and Perry's will be in downtown Los Angeles.

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Staff Writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.

Rick Orlov is a Daily News staff writer and columnist. His Tipoff column appears Mondays. For a daily political fix, go to the Sausage Factory at insidesocal.com/politics. You can contact him at rick.orlov@dailynews.com or 213-978-0390.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18167844?source=rss

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